Editor’s note: This is the last in a series of profile articles on each of the four candidates running for three seats on the city council in the Nov. 5 election. The profiles of candidates Laura Dent, Nasser Alsaadun, Javier Calleja were previously published.
By Bridget Manley, publisher
Deanna Reed has always been proud of her hometown. Born and raised in Harrisonburg, Reed said her priority has always been to make sure the community is “a city for all.”
Reed, who has been mayor since 2017, is running for re-election to the city council as one of four candidates vying for three spots. She was the top vote-getter in the June Democratic primary.
“I love this city,” Reed said. “Serving this city and ensuring Harrisonburg is who we say we are is my driving force to serve for a third term… I want a city that is inclusive, affordable, and thriving, a city that offers the best schools, a safe city, and a city that cares about the people who call it home.”
Reed has been a barrier-breaker since first being elected to the council in 2016, then becoming Harrisonburg’s first female Black mayor.
Reed’s win made her the fourth woman to serve on city council and the first woman of color to serve. Since then, her fellow city council members have chosen her to be mayor four times — in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023 — making her Harrisonburg’s third-longest serving mayor in the city’s history.
Reed said one of her proudest accomplishments has been helping guide the city through the process of building the new Rocktown High School, the city’s second high school, which opened this fall.
Reed said Harrisonburg High School was already experiencing overcrowding when she ran for office, but city officials faced challenging decisions about addressing the problem.
“I wanted to be at the table when that decision was made,” Reed said.
She ended up casting the deciding vote to approve the second high school.
Approved in 2019, construction the COVID-19 pandemic halted construction because of lost tax revenue, but the council put the project back in motion during its first in-person meeting in July 2021, following months of virtual council meetings.
Richard Baugh served with Reed for a full term from 2016 to 2020 and again for six months in 2022, filling a seat opened by the sudden departure of council member George Hirschmann.
Baugh called Reed “a tireless advocate for our families with children in our public schools.”
“She sees the big picture and recognizes that while what happens during the school day is hugely important for our students, what happens the rest of the day is crucial for them being able to show up ready and willing to learn tomorrow and the next day, and the next,” Baugh said.
Reed also played an instrumental role in building the city’s first year-round, low-barrier homeless shelter. Housing those experiencing homelessness has been a significant concern for city officials for years, especially for those people who didn’t meet the qualifications of a high-barrier shelter, like those who might not be sober or who are on a sex offender registry.
Using some of the $23.8 million the city received from the American Rescue Plan Act that Congress passed in 2021, the council purchased land and a 6,730-square-foot building on North Main Street and began construction on the year-round low-barrier shelter.
Valley Open Doors, a non-profit organization that has operated a low-barrier cold weather shelter system since 2007, will manage the shelter. During cold weather seasons, Open Doors has relied on a system of churches, empty supermarkets, and other buildings.
The shelter was set to open this November, but construction delays pushed back the shelter’s opening for a second time. City spokesman Michael Parks said they cannot set an opening date until the site work is finished.
Valley Open Doors is now searching for shelter spaces if the current shelter does not open in time for cold weather.
“Although we’re disappointed, we have been here before,” Mayor Deanna Reed said regarding the delay at the Oct. 23 city council meeting. “I know this community, and we always come together.”
Another accomplishment Reed highlighted was the city’s commitment to raising pay and adding employee benefits, such as paid parental leave.
City staff received a 3% compensation adjustment in the 2024-2025 fiscal year and recently received the benefit of using up to eight weeks of paid parental leave within a six-month period. Employees can be full-time or part-time, have worked at least six months, and have worked 500 hours.
“Caring for our employees is essential to keeping our city going and providing stellar service,” Reed said.
One challenge facing the city is a lack of affordable housing. Although the council has approved the construction of more than 2,800 new units, as of September, only 25 have been completed, and 55 are under construction.
One of the largest developments the council approved in recent years was the Bluestone Town Center. Reed, along with council member Chris Jones, voted against that mixed-use development off Erikson Avenue, which is expected to add 900 units.
Many residents opposed the complex, raising concerns about its impact on school capacity and stormwater runoff, while others supported it, citing the need for more affordable housing with walkable routes to shopping and other amenities.
Reed said she would prioritize affordable housing and childcare if reelected and work on improving city routes to improve transportation. She also wants to focus on livable wages for city staff and enhanced benefits.
Harrisonburg is set to elect either its first refugee – Nasser Alsaadun, or its second immigrant – Javier Calleja, or both. Three seats are open in this year’s race. Vice-Mayor Laura Dent is also seeking reelection.
Reed said that local government can better address the concerns of all residents and work towards creating inclusive and equitable policies when those populations are represented in local government.
“Representing different backgrounds and perspectives has allowed for a more inclusive decision-making process that considers the needs and concerns of our many diverse populations,” Reed said. “This has led to policies and initiatives that better address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by different groups within our city. Overall, the diversity in our city council has contributed to a more equitable and supportive environment for all residents.”
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